S13E3: Creating Longevity Drugs for Dogs with Celine Halioua, Founder of Loyal

Description

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we sit down with Celine Halioua, Founder and CEO of Loyal, a biotech company pioneering FDA-approved longevity drugs for dogs. From a childhood surrounded by rescue animals to an academic journey through neuroscience, health economics, and venture capital, Celine’s path to entrepreneurship is as winding as it is inspiring. Today, Loyal is leading the charge in redefining what’s possible in veterinary medicine—aiming not just to treat disease, but to extend healthy lifespan itself.In this episode, Celine shares how her scientific curiosity about aging and her love for animals converged into a singular mission. She takes us behind the scenes on the founding story of Loyal—from a chance conversation around a campfire, to navigating the capital-intensive world of biotech, to winning over regulators and pet parents alike. Listeners will walk away with hard-earned insights about fundraising in uncertain markets, balancing ambition with operational discipline, and the importance of being both scientifically rigorous and soulfully driven when building something truly generational.(00:00) Introduction(05:00) How did Celine’s early upbringing in Austin shape her worldview?(06:31) Did Celine always think she’d become a founder?(06:49) What early research made Celine believe in longevity as a real field?(08:51) How did Celine’s love for dogs intersect with her scientific passion?(10:48) What was the aha moment behind starting Loyal?(16:14) What was it like convincing early investors and team members to believe in Loyal?(19:41) Who was the first person to invest in Celine and Loyal?(21:29) How did Celine build trust with both regulators and pet owners?(24:24) What’s a moment that didn’t go as planned, and how did Celine turn it around?(30:47) Is it challenging to build a brand while the product isn’t ready to go to market?(34:17) Is getting a drug for animals approved by the FDA different than a drug for humans?(36:41) What did Celine consider when building her t